English Chess Forum

A bit like the Bacon number in acting or the Erdos number in Maths/Science, my colleague at Yorkshire Chess has suggested that we should try build up a database of links for a Fischer number - the chain links are people who have DEFEATED their opponents in standard play games, no rapid, blitz etc.

This is Dave's post to view - The man who beat the man who drew with Mikhail Tal

My Fischer number is 4:

Borislav Ivkov beat Fischer – 1965 Capablanca Memorial
James Plaskett beat Ivkov – 1983 Manchester Benedictine Open
Jean-Luc Weller beat Plaskett – 2012 4NCL
Andrew Bak beat Jean-Luc Weller – 2012 Woodhouse Cup

What are the forumites Fischer numbers?

Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

Well, that's that then

Sean Hewitt wrote:

IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

Well, that's that then

There probably aren't that many people alive who have beaten Fischer, never mind any who visit the forum!

I'm not sure what mine is although based on the information supplied by Andy I know it's at most 5 as I once managed to beat him I have beaten Roelof Westra who told me he played Fischer when Fischer was aged 11 but the game was a draw (and also a 'friendly' I think, in as much as it might have been possible to have a friendly game with Fischer!).

IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

That's the route for quite a number of people. It's difficult to find players that Fischer lost to, even fewer are those who've played much in the UK or against British players. Other routes would be via Korchnoi, Spassky and other top players of that era, although that's likely confined to GMs.

IM Jack Rudd wrote:Mine's 2: I've beaten James Sherwin, who's beaten Fischer.

I suspect that will be the most popular route

Pretty sure I've beaten Jimmy Sherwin, but can't remember the game. If Bronstein ever beat Fischer, I'm claiming a double 2
Edit: if not, I have a disappointing 3 via Jack!

A few must be able to claim 2 via Korchnoi.

Barden 1-0 Donner (BUCA v Dutch Universities 1950)
Barden 1-0 Donner (Bognor 1954)
Donner 1-0 Fischer (Varna Olympiad 1962)
Also: Barden 1-0 Fischer blitz 1960

I prefer Morphy numbers....

Simon Ansell wrote:Pretty sure I've beaten Jimmy Sherwin, but can't remember the game. If Bronstein ever beat Fischer, I'm claiming a double 2
Edit: if not, I have a disappointing 3 via Jack!

A few must be able to claim 2 via Korchnoi.

Bronstein =3 -1 vs Fischer according to my database. Still, pretty cool that you've beaten Bronstein though!

Andrew Bak wrote:

Simon Ansell wrote:Pretty sure I've beaten Jimmy Sherwin, but can't remember the game. If Bronstein ever beat Fischer, I'm claiming a double 2
Edit: if not, I have a disappointing 3 via Jack!

A few must be able to claim 2 via Korchnoi.

Bronstein =3 -1 vs Fischer according to my database. Still, pretty cool that you've beaten Bronstein though!

Yep, let's do Botvinnik numbers instead

Although Leonard could almost certainly trump me there also!

Simon Ansell wrote:
Yep, let's do Botvinnik numbers instead

Although Leonard could almost certainly trump me there also!

Barden 1-0 Alexander Buxton 1950
Barden 1-0 Alexander Hastings 1953 (despite not knowing how to win the Lucena position)
Alexander 1-0 Botvinnik radio match 1946

Leonard Barden wrote:Barden 1-0 Donner (BUCA v Dutch Universities 1950)
Barden 1-0 Donner (Bognor 1954)
Donner 1-0 Fischer (Varna Olympiad 1962)
Also: Barden 1-0 Fischer blitz 1960

I prefer Morphy numbers....

Blitz games not allowed, but interesting all the same!

well....anyway.....getting the discussion back to the "average" players....mines a 6...which I thought was very impressive (until I read some of the others !)

David Grobler wrote:well....anyway.....getting the discussion back to the "average" players....mines a 6...which I thought was very impressive (until I read some of the others !)

It's probably lower than 6. You've beaten Alan Papier, and it shouldn't take that long to get from Papier to Sherwin given how long they've both played in the Bristol League.

EDIT: It is lower than 6, seeing your message on Facebook:

David Grobler beat Alan Merry
Alan Merry beat Jack Rudd
Jack Rudd beat James Sherwin
James Sherwin beat Robert Fischer